It is very important that children attend school every day, unless they are unwell. Attending every day means they can access all the learning opportunities available to them, providing them with a great foundation for their future.

If your child is unwell and cannot come to school, it is vital that you inform us as soon as possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to decide if your child should be kept at home or sent to school if they are feeling under the weather. The NHS has provided some useful guidance to help you decide.  Click here to find out more.  

If you feel your child should be kept at home please see the information below regarding procedures for notifying the school of your child's absence.

• Parents/carers should contact the school by 9am on the first day of their child’s absence. When parents/carers notify us of their child’s absence, it is important that they provide us with details of the reason for their absence.

• All absences are recorded as either authorised or unauthorised absences on Arbor.

• It is important that we receive accurate information from parents with reasons for the child’s absence. This information is used to determine whether the absence is authorised or unauthorised.

• Where we have not received reasons for a child’s absence, then we will attempt to contact parents to request these details. If this is not possible, or an answer is not returned by a specified date, then the absence will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.

• Where a child is absent from school and we have not received any verbal or written communication from the parent, then we initiate 'first day calling procedure'. If you would like to view a copy of this procedure, there are copies available in the school office.

Exceptional Leave of Absence

The Department for Education allows a Headteacher the discretion to consider authorising a leave of absence in term time only in “exceptional circumstances”.  To request an exceptional leave of absence, the below form must be completed and sent to the school at least 2 weeks before the absence.